by MIKE CHAIKEN
CTFashionMag.com
With the Miss Connecticut USA competition looming in January, Fairfield resident Jenna Hofmann is getting ready for another shot at the title.
A second runner-up in the 2024 competition held this past April, Hofmann is hoping that 2025 is her year.
Shavana Clark is the current Miss Connecticut USA.
Hofmann is a fairly recent arrival in the Nutmeg State.
“I’m originally from New York,” said Hofmann in a recent Zoom call. “I started competing in pageants when I was in ninth grade… at 14 years old. I competed at the Miss New York USA pageant… (for) Miss New York Teen USA. That was my first pageant. Then I went to college in Connecticut. I went to Sacred Heart University (in Fairfield) … and then I moved to Connecticut after… That’s what got me into Miss Connecticut USA.”
This past April’s contest was Hofmann’s first time in the Nutmeg State competition. She was happy to walk away with second runner-up accolades.
“I’m always so honored to even be competing on the stage in general. So, I was really just so grateful to even place in the top five… Everyone always says, ‘Different day, different judges, different outcomes.’ You never really know what to expect when you’re competing in a pageant, and I’m always just so grateful to be in the pageant itself, and to be able to share my story.”
Hofmann hopes that by returning in January, she will be able to win the title. However, she said she also is returning to share her story once again.
Hofmann said, “As someone who suffered from anxiety growing up, I thought that my mental health obstacles would define me and hold me back. But over time, I learned that through conquering my fears I was able to unlock my success. And now I work at the number one real estate brokerage in the country at just 23 years old.”
Additionally, Hofmann said, “I work to encourage more young women to also conquer their obstacles in order to unlock their potential. I actually hosted the Bold Future Leaders program through Girls, Inc., which is an organization that inspires young women to be strong, smart, and bold leaders.
“That is what I would love to continue to do if I had the absolute honor of being Miss Connecticut USA,” said Hofmann.
In addition, Hofmann wants to use the opportunity as a titleholder to share the story of her friend Lenny and honor his memory.
Lenny recently committed suicide, said Hoffman. “Another huge reason why I compete is to not only share my story with my struggles of mental health but to share his story as well.”
Asked to detail her mental health struggles, Hofmann said, “I was suffering a lot of panic attacks. I had a lot of panic attacks. I was actually bullied in high school– and actually college as well. That kind of triggered (the panic attacks) for me. I just felt so alone. I was in such a dark time in my life. But what got me out of it was my support system and the people around me helping.”
Hofmann continued, “What I want to do is be that support system for those who may not have it, and by me sharing my story, the more we normalize (what I went through) that will help normalize mental health… that will do more to end the stigma.”
Hofmann said she has learned strategies to help her work through her panic attacks.
“It’s definitely very different for every single person… Personally, what I did, I talked to someone, which was a very big help. Then just getting my mind off of it, I kind of turned to my career… as a way to help… I also love to go to the gym. I do CrossFit. I’m very into health and fitness.
“I like to put my mind towards something else.”
Hofmann added, “Also my support system (helps). Talking to people… you don’t realize how many people have anxiety until you start talking about it. That also was a big comfort for me.”
Pageants also were a helpful coping mechanism, said Hofmann. “I love competing in pageants because it’s truly like a sisterhood….and it’s very uplifting. Everyone competing in pageants has something that they’re passionate about…So being able to connect with this amazing group of women really helped me… Honestly, I wouldn’t be the person I am today without pageants.”
With the state competition coming up quickly, how is Hofmann preparing for her moments before the judges?
“There’s a lot of mental preparation. (I’ve been doing) fitness training, of course. I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching and really seeing what I want my year to look like if I were to win the title,” said Hofmann.
If she wins, she said, “I really want to focus on Girls Inc.”
Hofmann said, “I found out about Girls Inc. a few years ago, when I was competing in pageants… as a teen. My teen platform was bullying and suicide prevention. When I was competing, one of the misses… was an advocate for Girls. Inc…. (After doing some research into the organization) it just became something that I was so in love with.”
Miss Connecticut USA and Miss Connecticut Teen USA will be held Jan. 24-26 in Windsor, Conn. For information and tickets, visit MissConnecticutUSA.com.
